"Gentle," Daneel soothes, rubbing his fingers in gentle circles just below Ned's collarbone. He will go no faster than he can be assured of doing safely.

But Ned is encouraging him, rocking back against him, eager and ready and sexual. It's an alien thing, this sexuality, astonishing and brilliantly shining. It's so... uniquely human.

He presses his lips to the back of Ned's neck, moving slowly against Ned, into him, within him. Ned is reason, instrument, audience for the symphony of sensation Daneel is working to create. Every sound he's working on memorising every twitch of muscle -- it's an entirely organic process, as natural and necessary as eating or sleeping. It's all very human, something Daneel can listen to and observe but never quite touch.

His movements are slow, purposeful, deliberate, caution and affection all wrapped up together.